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Advances in understanding the pathogenesis of systemic anaplastic large cell lymphomas
Author(s) -
Boi Michela,
Zucca Emanuele,
Inghirami Giorgio,
Bertoni Francesco
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/bjh.13265
Subject(s) - anaplastic lymphoma kinase , anaplastic large cell lymphoma , lymphoma , cancer research , pathogenesis , large cell lymphoma , biology , medicine , pathology , lung cancer , malignant pleural effusion
Summary The currently used 2008 World Health Organization classification recognizes two types of systemic anaplastic large T cell lymphoma according to ALK protein expression in tumour cells. First, the ‘anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK positive’ ( ALK + ALCL ) that is characterized by the presence of ALK gene rearrangements and consequent ALK protein expression, and, second, the ‘anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK negative’ ( ALK − ALCL ) that is a provisional entity lacking ALK protein expression but cannot be distinguished morphologically from ALK + ALCL . In this review we summarize the current knowledge on the genetic lesions and biological features that underlie the pathogenesis of ALK + and the ALK − ALCL and that can lead to the use of targeted anti‐cancer agents.